What is a documentary wedding photographer?

The term documentary wedding photographer is rather commonly used in the wedding industry, usually meaning a photographer who tells a story or 'documents' the day. But in the mix of the many wedding photographers out there everyone has a different take on this style, and as such trying to decipher what's what in the world of wedding photography can be a daunting task.

My approach can be described as candid, natural and real, I don't pose people, ask them to look over and smile or do group shots of all various combinations of guests for hours on end, to put it in the most simple way my goal on your wedding is to be there all day, photograph from start to finish and give you a collection of honest and real photographs of what actually happens on your day.

As a Documentary Wedding Photographer my work leads to a collection of photographs that really take you back to your day when looking at them, so you can instantly feel the emotion of a photograph and have those wedding day feelings come rushing back.

It also means you and your guests can focus on having a fantastic day and not feel like stopping for photos is taking away time which you could be enjoying yourself, and while you're enjoying yourself I'll be there, getting photos of it.

With weddings I'll usually photograph anything that tells a story, if that's Gary in his van as we pop off to do a few portraits then that's what I'll shoot.

I am happy to do few posed family portraits or group shots, I like to keep these to around 5, and work from a shot list so that they can be completed very quickly and efficiently.

I like to photograph using a wide angle lens, this way the viewer can be immersed in the scene.

Documentary wedding photography is all about watching and listening, waiting for moments to unfold, then capturing them with the camera. If I see a group of people engaged in conversation with a joke being told I'll listen for the punchline just as I'll wait while long parted friends engage in a heartfelt embrace or for that moment when everyone sees the bride for the first time.

It is all about timing.

If I haven't photographed at a venue before then I'll be sure to try and go for a look around before your wedding, I like to get my bearings and get a feel for the type of wedding it is and where the light will fall.

I have my own mantra when shooting, something which I constantly remind myself when working:

Don't take boring photos

This is what documentary wedding photography is all about, getting shots without people knowing. This image was shot from the hip without looking, in the time it would of taken and with the attention I would of drawn, for me to lift the camera up to my eye this shot would have been missed.

I'm always sure to get those photos of the venue and details which you will have no doubt spent hours deciding on, I try to shoot in a way which tells the story and shows what the day was like while not burdening you with hundreds of needless photos.

When wandering around the venue I like to take photos that look real, I'll always try to get a person in my images, even if it's just in the background, and if I can't I like my photographs of wedding details to natural looking and reflect what you had in mind for them when you chose them.

I like to get shots of all aspects of getting ready without interfering, I'll not be moving your shoes around to get a shot in the window or taking out the rings to hang them on a tree branch, rather I'll photograph what's actually there exactly as it is.

My aim is to be as discreet as possible, I was only about 3 meters away with this shot but got down, took the shot and was off before the subject had noticed.

I shoot each wedding differently from the last, I don't go in with a perfect shot list in mind, instead I go in to get photos of each wedding as it is, so I won't be hanging up the dress or taking your jewellery out to get a shot of it. This gives each wedding it's own character in terms of photos and you can rest assured that I'll be getting the things important to you and not thinking which shot I need to tick off the list next.

From a wedding I aim to deliver 350 images, sometimes it's a little more sometimes a little less it really depends on the type of wedding.

I hope that gives you an idea of what Documentary Wedding Photography is, I like to think of myself as the ideal wedding photographer to hire when you really don't want a "wedding photographer" and want something different, honest and stress free.